Westfield State University’s Casey Boudreau and Nick Martin celebrate after scoring on Colin Dunn’s double in the third inning. (Courtesy of WSU Sports)
KISSIMMEE, FLA. — Nick Martin and Colin Dunn each rapped out three hits to lead Westfield State to an 8-5 win over Suffolk University on a sweltering day at Osceola Heritage Park Stadium Monday.
Both the Owls and Rams were picked in the preseason top 10 selected by New England Baseball Journal.
Temperatures scraped 90 degrees in the stadium, which is the home of the Atlanta Braves A-Ball affiliate Florida Fire Frogs, and was the former spring training home of the Houston Astros.
Westfield jumped out to a quick start, scoring two runs in teh top of the first inning, as Anthony Crowley’s base hit scored Casey Boudreau from second. One hitter later, Martin stole third base, then a few pitches later Crowley was caught off the bag at first, but managed to evade the rundown long enough to allow Martin to score from third.
The Owls added three more in the second on a 2-run double from Dunn and an RBI single from Aaron Clancy.
Trevor Edwards earned the win in releif of Westfield State starter Patrick Jordan, with two inings of scoreless relief. Scott Strachan added two scoreless frames to get the Owls to the ninth inning, where sophomore Troy Saulnier worked through trouble, allowing one run, but ultimately striking out the side to preserve the win.
Westfield is back in action tomorrow with a 3:45 p.m. game against Illinois Wesleyan in Auburndale, Fla.
SOFTBALL
Husson 6, Westfield State 5; Westfield State 7, Finlandia 3
Westfield State softball grabbed its first win of the 2019 season with a 7-3 win over Finlandia University in the second game of a split double header in Leesburg, Fla.
The Owls dropped the opener to Husson (Me.) College, by a 9-5 final.
In the nightcap, Emily Arredondo tossed a complete game scattering seven hits, allowing just one earned run, and striking out five to get the win. Westfield scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Bri Tortora had three hits, including two doubles and two runs batted in for the Owls, and Madison Philbrook drove in three runs with a pair of hits. Maddie Keigwin added a pair of hits for Westfield as well.
In the opener, Lindsay Cordopatri and Karly Mastello each had a pair of hits for the Owls. Westfield led 5-2 in the the top of the third inning on a bases loaded single from Kaitlynn Prophet that scored Caitlin Hughes, but Husson grabbed the lead in the fourth inning on a homerun from Olivia Smith.
